Louis Vuitton’s Tambour Spin Time has always treated the hour display as theatre rather than simple indication.
The latest expansion gives that idea a broader stage, adding five permanent references across precious metals, gem-setting, world time and a flying tourbillon.
It’s a significant move for one of Louis Vuitton’s most recognisable modern watchmaking signatures, especially as production has now been brought fully in-house in Geneva.
At a glance
- Louis Vuitton has added five Tambour Spin Time watches to its permanent collection.
- The line-up includes green, opal, blue, world-time and platinum flying-tourbillon references.
- Prices range from €86,000 to €200,000, with automatic movements made by La Fabrique du Temps.
The rotating cubes remain the signature
The Spin Time concept began in 2007, when Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini of La Fabrique du Temps developed a jumping-hour idea inspired by mechanical departure boards.
The first Spin Time watch arrived in 2009 with 12 rotating cubes used to indicate the hours, creating a display that felt graphic, architectural and immediately different from a conventional hand.
That mechanism was also the first movement developed by La Fabrique du Temps for Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton acquired the Geneva workshop in 2011, gradually bringing movement, case and dial production closer together under one roof.
The Spin Time Air followed in 2019, and the 2025 generation introduces a new family of movements alongside fully in-house production.
Five permanent references from opal to tourbillon
The Tambour Spin Time Green is the most direct expression of the group, pairing a 39.5 mm white-gold case with a green dial and matching rubber strap.
It uses the automatic LFT ST13.01 calibre, visible through an open sapphire caseback and fitted with a rose-gold oscillating weight.
The Tambour Spin Time Australia’s Opal shifts the same 39.5 mm format into rose gold, placing blue Australian opal at the centre of the dial between the rotating cubes.
It is also the most jewellery-led of the smaller models, with baguette-cut blue sapphires on the bezel, lugs and buckle, plus baguette-cut diamonds as hour markers.
The 42.5 mm Tambour Spin Time Air Blue moves into a larger white-gold case and uses its rotating cubes to spell out “Louis Vuitton” across a blue dial.
The Tambour Spin Time Air Antipode Blue keeps the 42.5 mm white-gold case but adds a world-time display, with a central map, 24 major time zones arranged across 12 rotating cubes, and a miniature yellow pointer for local time.
At the top of the new group sits the Tambour Spin Time Air Flying Tourbillon Salmon, a 42.5 mm platinum watch built around a central flying tourbillon and a salmon-coloured dial.
Tambour casework and Geneva finishing
Across the five references, Louis Vuitton keeps the Tambour identity sharp with sandblasted bezels, polished relief lettering and separately milled hollowed lugs.
The concave lug flanks are laser-frosted, while the case middle is brushed, giving the architecture more texture than the round silhouette first suggests.
The dials carry the “Fab. en Suisse” inscription, and the movements are finished with micro-sandblasted bridges, polished chamfers, transparent colourless jewels and 18k rose-gold oscillating weights where specified.
That detail matters because Spin Time is no longer simply a striking display concept for Louis Vuitton.
It has become a technical platform the maison can use for time-only pieces, métiers d’art dials, travel complications and high complications.
Details & Specifications
| Tambour Spin Time Green | Ref. W9WGA2, 39.5 mm white-gold case, 12.15 mm thick, green dial, green rubber strap, LFT ST13.01 automatic movement, 45-hour power reserve, 100 metres water resistance, €86,000 |
|---|---|
| Tambour Spin Time Australia’s Opal | Ref. W9PG42, 39.5 mm rose-gold case, blue Australian opal dial centre, 82 baguette-cut blue sapphires, 12 baguette-cut diamonds, approximately 4.71 carats, LFT ST13.01 automatic movement, 45-hour power reserve, €190,000 |
| Tambour Spin Time Air Blue | Ref. W9WG81, 42.5 mm white-gold case, 12.45 mm thick, blue dial with rotating cubes, blue calfskin strap, LFT ST13.01 automatic movement, 45-hour power reserve, 50 metres water resistance, €95,000 |
| Tambour Spin Time Air Antipode Blue | Ref. W9WG91, 42.5 mm white-gold case, 12.45 mm thick, world-time display with 24 major time zones and day/night indication, LFT ST12.01 automatic movement, 45-hour power reserve, 50 metres water resistance, €120,000 |
| Tambour Spin Time Air Flying Tourbillon Salmon | Ref. W9PT21, 42.5 mm 950 platinum case, 12.45 mm thick, salmon-coloured dial, central flying tourbillon, taupe calfskin strap, LFT ST05.01 automatic movement, 45-hour power reserve, 50 metres water resistance, €200,000 |
| LFT ST13.01 movement | Automatic calibre with 246 components, 35 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour and 45-hour power reserve |
| LFT ST12.01 movement | Automatic world-time Spin Time Air calibre with 271 components, 36 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour and 45-hour power reserve |
| LFT ST05.01 movement | Automatic flying-tourbillon calibre with 283 components, 40 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour and 45-hour power reserve |
For collectors drawn to expressive mechanics rather than discreet watchmaking, this Tambour Spin Time expansion shows Louis Vuitton leaning into one of its strongest horological ideas with more range and more confidence.
